Fire-escape



(No Model.)

'G. A. PHIPER.

, FIRE ESCAPE. v No. 248,607. Patented Oct. 25,1881.

Wiinesss: 7

ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. PHIFER, OF NEW RICHMOND, OHIO.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Application filed May 27, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. PHIFER, of New Richmond, in the county of Olermont and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in Which- Figurel is an end view ot'a lniildingequipped with my fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a front view of the building. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper part of the escape, showing one manner of attaching same to the building. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the escape, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the ladder closed.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective fire-escape of the class that are attached to buildings; and it consists of a ladder one side bar of which, of the form shown, is secured to the building, the otherside bar,ot'like form bein gconnected with the stationary side bar by rounds hinged at each end to permit the outer side bar to fold up onto the stationary bar, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the inner side bar of a ladder. This is secured vertically against the building by the side of a tier of windows, and may extend down to the ground, or only to the second story of the building. This side bar preferably reaches to the roof or cornice of the building and hangs on a chain or rod, D, secured to the block D, or it may be otherwise attached to the cornice or to the side of the building. The lower end is secured to the bracket A, so as to permit the side bar, A, to revolve in the socket of the bracket A a short distance.

Bounds or cross-bars O are hinged at their inner ends, preferably to the projecting flange of the angle-iron bar A, and their opposite ends are in like manner hinged to the flange of the outer bar, B. This outer baris also secured to the cornice or other projection by a chain or rod, E, and block E,but is somewhat shorter than the inner bar. The object of this is to permit the bar B to swing up to clear the cornice.

A trigger, F, is secured to the upper end of the inner bar, A, and a rod, G, is connected with this trigger and extends down alongside of the inner bar. Various equivalent devices may be substituted for this trigger and rod.

The operation is as follows: YVhen not in use the outer bar, B, is folded up against the inner bar, A. The rounds 0r cross-bars O are thus disposed vertically within the hollow formed by thejunction of the two angle-iron bars, as shown in Fig. 5. The trigger F serves to thus hold them together. When designed for 'use the rod G is drawn downward, causing the trigger F to release the upper end of the outer bar, when it descends until the chain E is taut.

The ladder thus formed being at the side of a tier of windows, the occupants of the adjacent rooms can easily escape in case of fire.

I am aware that folding ladders having one rail or side fixed to the house and jointed rings have heretofore been used as fire-escapes, and do not broadly claim such as my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a fire-escape, the angle-iron bars A B, in combination with the hinged cross-bars G, substantially as shown.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of the angle-iron bars A B and hinged cross-bars O and the chains D E, secured to the building with the trigger F and rod G, all operating as and for the purpose specified.

GEORGE A. PHIFER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. DICKINSON, A. 'l. KIRKPATRICK. 

